Just like San Diego’s Comic-Con and New Orleans’s Mardi Gras, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) is Space City’s crowning glory. Taking place at NRG Park, home of the Houston Texans football team, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say that this event has close to everything you could want in an live event: live music, carnivals, barbecue cook-offs, wine tasting competitions, shopping, trail rides, petting zoos, mini car shows, auctions and, of course, rodeo competitions, rodeo runs, rodeo exhibitors — rodeo everything.
HLSR is broken down into two sections that run concurrently: the livestock show and the rodeo, which concludes with a stadium concert each night.
The livestock exhibition is a mile-long country western shopping mall in a convention-center-turned indoor-barnyard. The traditional events held include livestock auctions, calf scrambles and horse shows. Visitors can also experience the wonder of chickens hatching and calves being born, as well as visit lambs and piglets in a designated area. Vendors from various corners of the world sell Western-themed items like stylish mint-green and brown cowboy boots, jewelry, furniture and artwork. You could even buy a truck, a trailer or a hot tub if you really wanted to.
The daily rodeo performances in NRG Stadium, which seats more than 72,000, are the highlight of each day. Over 300 cowboys and cowgirls from around the world compete in a series of rodeo sports including bareback riding, which is horse riding without a saddle, and steer wrestling, in which a horse-mounted rider drops from the horse to wrestle the steer to the ground. Although, this is not thrilling to watch if you are an animal lover.
A revolving platform is introduced into the arena sand at the end each night for the concert. Most evenings have country music artists, although some nights are devoted to pop or rock performances. This year’s lineup includes Blake Shelton, 50 Cent, Major Lazer and the Jonas Brothers.
The Specs
- More than 2.4 million people attend this festival.
- Admission to the 300-acre event grounds is $20 per day for adults and $10 for children between the ages of 3 and 12.
- Admission to the daily rodeo and concert in NRG Stadium, one of the park’s main venues, starts at $25 and includes entry into all other activities on the grounds. Admission is free for children 2 and under.
- Here’s Fifty Grande’s guide to the city of Houston.
FAQs
What is the closest airport to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo?
Texas’ George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located 29 miles from the festival grounds.
If I have a ticket for the rodeo/concert, do I need an additional ticket for the livestock show/carnival/grounds?
Your rodeo/concert ticket allows access to NRG Stadium and NRG Park, including NRG Arena, NRG Center and the carnival.
How many tickets are sold for the rodeo and concert series?
According to Wikipedia, more than 43,000 season tickets are sold every year, and the other 30,000 seats go to individual show sales.
Who is the grand marshal of this year’s parade?
Buc-ee’s founder and CEO, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, will serve as grand marshal of the Downtown Rodeo Parade.
Is the festival ADA accessible?
The facilities are fully ADA accessible with access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
What are some of the other rodeo season events?
Before Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, other rodeo season events include free Go Texan Day (Feb.23) at Hermann Square, World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest (Feb. 22-24) at NRG Park, colorful and unique Downtown Rodeo Parade (Feb.24), and Rodeo Run (Feb. 24), among others.
What is the Rodeo Houston Super Series?
According to the website, it’s a “20-day tournament-style competition that crowns an event champion in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, and women’s barrel racing and breakaway roping.”
What night is Cody Johnson playing 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo?
Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton are not scheduled for the 2024 event.
What should I wear to the 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo?
The Houston-area residents are likely to wear their Western heritage attire (jeans, boots, cowboy hats) but there’s no dress code. This event attracts literally millions of people from all over, so wear what you want.
What is the bag policy?
Small purses or backpacks are allowed. Baby strollers and wagons are also allowed. All patrons are subject to wand and bag check screening at entrance gates.
What’s the entertainer lineup at the 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo?
This year’s lineup includes Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, For King + Country, 50 Cent, Hardy, Ivan Cornejo, Hank Williams Jr., Oliver Anthony, Jelly Roll, Luke Bryan, Major Lazer, Lainey Wilson, Los Tigres Del Norte, Whiskey Myers, Bun B, Nickelback, Zac Brown Band, Jonas Brothers, Brad Paisley, Eric Church. Past performers have included a range, from Tim McGraw to Beyonce.
What is the schedule?
- Tuesday, February 27: Shelton Blake
- Wednesday, February 28:Carly Pearce
- Thursday, February 29: King and Country
- Friday, March 1st: 50 Cent
- Saturday, March 2: Hardy
- Sunday, March 3: Ivan Cornejo
- Monday, March 4: Hank Williams Jr.
- Tuesday, March 5: Oliver Anthony
- Wednesday, March 6: Jelly roll
- Thursday, March 7: Luke Bryan
- Friday, March 8: Major Lazer
- Saturday, March 9: Lainey Wilson
- Sunday, March 10: Los Tigres del Norte
- Monday, March 11:Whiskey Myers
- Tuesday, March 12: Bun B and friends
- Wednesday, March 13: Nickelback
- Thursday, March 14: Zac Brown Band
- Friday, March 15:Jones brothers
- Saturday, March 16: Brad Paisley
- Sunday, March 17: Eric Church
